Ankle-support



(No Model.)

G, G. MQEWEN.

ANKLE SUPPORT. No. 332,727. Patented Dec. 22, 1885.

UNITED STATES GEORGE C. lVICEl/VEN, OF NEWVARK, NElV JERSEY.

ANKLE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 332,727, dated December 22,1885. Application filed March 1-3, 1985. 7 Serial No. 158,586. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. MoEwEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Supports. of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to ankle supports of that class which have heretofore been constructed of a single piece of material so shaped as to conform to the heel, ankle-joint, and a portion of the leg of the wearer, and to be worn inside of a boot or shoe, the object being to occupy as little space within the shoe as possible.

The object of my invention is to provide an ankle-support adapted to be worn outside of a boot or shoe, and to be firmly bound to the ankle of the wearer in order to strengthen the same against abnormal weakness, and, more particularly, to strengthen the ankle against excessive strains and overwork which are liable in using roller or blade skates. In other words, my invention, while being adapted for use for physical culture or treatment, is also as fully adapted to the use of skaters for the purpose specified.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of an anklesupport constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a modification thereof.

Like letters indicate like parts in both figures.

The body portion of my supporter consists of a band or body portion cut to fit the ankle, the upper portion of the heel, and the upper portion of the instep of the foot, somewhat after the nature of a top-gaiter, and comprises a cloth, leather, or other material, A, having stitched therein gores B, of suitable elastic material, at each side of the ankle, and provided with straps, cords, or lacings G, for the purpose of causing the body portion to fit snugly about the ankle of the wearer. This body portion I provide with stit'feners or strengthening-ribs D, which may be of steel, whalebone, reed, wood, vulcanized rubber, cords,wire, or any other suitable resilient material. Such strengtheningribs I secure in the body portion by forming pockets in the same by rows of stitches E at proper distances apart,

which unite the two or more plies of the body portion, thus forming pockets extending from the top or near the top to the bottom of the same, and preferably in close proximity to the elastic gorcs, so that said stifi'eners shall come in the proper place and strengthen the ankle against a sidewise movement, and so that movement of the anklejoint in the opposite directions shall be permissible.

In Fig. 1 the dotted lines E represent the stitches which form the pockets for the strengthening ribs D. From the lower edge of the body portion A, on one side of the ankle, there extends a strap or band, F, which is connected, either adj ustably or permanently, as desired, with the body portion at the 0pposite sides thereof. This strap or band may be made of elastic material, or of leather, steel, or iron, or of other suitable material, as desired, and may be secured to the body portion by any usual means, the object of the same being to retain the support in a desired adjusted position about and inclosing the ankle of the wearer.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification which is adapted for a larger field of adjustment and for being bound more firmly to the ankle of the wearer than the construction shown in Fig. 1, although, as shown by dotted lines X in Fig. 1, certain features of construction of the invention may be interchanged, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

The strengtheninga-ibs D are formed on a frame work which is in the form of two separate clamps, A, which, like the body portion represented in Fig. 1, do not, of themselves, pass beneath the sole portion of the shoe at the instep, but which are curved, as at A, to snugly fit the instep at' either side of the foot and above the sole. To one of said clamps, by rivets A or by any other suitable means, is secured a strap, 0, having a buckle or other suitable fastening device, which passes through a loop, A. (Shown in dotted lines secured to the opposite surface of the opposite clamp A.) In this form the supports are applied to opposite sides of the ankle, which is permissible by reason of the strap 0 passing through the loop A to adapt the clamps to fit ankles of all sizes and shapes. The strap is then wound spirally and upward around the ankle, firmly drawing the clamps thereto, and finally spirally downward to the place of beginning, where the end is secured in the buckle.

As before stated, the modified form of clamps may be inserted in the body portion A, provided with the elastic gores B, illustrated in Fig. 1, in which case the strap or band F may or may not be used, as desired.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is 1. An ankle-support having a flexible body portion adapted to snugly fit the leg and foot above, below, and at the ankle-joint, and provided with vertical strengthening ribs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. An ankle-support comprising a flexible body portion adapted to snugly fit the anklejoint, and strengthening-ribs arranged to prevent a sidewise motion of the joint, and to permit an opposite motion of said joint, substantially as specified.

3. An ankle-support consisting of a pliable ankle portion and resilient strengthening-ribs, constructed to be drawn against the instep outside of and above the sole of the shoe, substantially as specified.

4. In an ankle support, the combination, with vertical strengthening -ribs, of devices, substantially as shown and described, for firmly binding the same upon a shoe against the instep and ankle, substantially as specified.

W'itnesses:

E. B. STOCKING, J. H. HAHN. 

